Police and Ambulance received multiple calls at 4.45pm today that there had been a shooting at Whakaaratamaiti Marae in Putaruru. Photo / Stephen Parker
Police and Ambulance received multiple calls at 4.45pm today that there had been a shooting at Whakaaratamaiti Marae in Putaruru. Photo / Stephen Parker
Armed police have responded to reports of a shooting near a marae in Putāruru, in Waikato.
Police were called to the marae at 4.45pm after reports a man approached passersby in the area saying someone had been shot.
"Police are currently at the marae making inquiries," a spokesperson said.
"Butat this stage there is nothing to indicate that anyone has in fact been shot.
"We will continue to provide updates as any new information comes to hand."
Whakaaratamaiti Marae chairman Justin Dick at 6.15pm told the Herald everyone on the marae itself was safe but they had been told to stay indoors by police.
A man who lives next to a marae on Domain Rd told the Herald a man had come onto his property at 4.45pm telling him that there was someone at the marae shooting people.
The man's report is unconfirmed by any officials. A police source told the Herald at 6pm they were treating the matter as "an active shooter".
After the man came and left from the property he called police at 4.45pm.
Police arrived shortly after to speak to him. He said he did not hear any shots but saw armed police officers headed towards the marae after 4pm.
A woman who said she was at the marae told Newstalk ZB at 5.45pm that all was quiet there and "she had not seen or heard anything".
Ambulance staff at the scene. Photo / Stephen Parker
A reporter at the scene said there were a lot of cars at the intersection of Domain Rd and SH1.
She said some were residents who were trying to get into the road but being blocked.
She saw three ambulances at the scene and about 40 police officers.
A police spokeswoman has said she can't confirm what the emergency is at this stage.
"All I can confirm is we are responding to an incident in Putaruru. We were called at 4.45pm."
Police are currently responding to an incident in Putaruru. We were called at 4.45pm and are currently en route to the scene. Until we arrive we will have no further information to share. We'll provide an update as soon as we can.
